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UNC objects to Faris, Stuart at briefing …”ABUSE OF POWER”

The Opposition United National Congress (UNC) has criticized the presence of two Government Ministers at a police press briefing on the release of kidnapped victim, Natalie Pollonais.

Through their public relations officer, Anita Haynes, the UNC has condemned the presence of Attorney General Faris Al Rawi and Minister of National Security, Stuart Young at the briefing on Monday night.

Social media posts have also condemned the presence of the Ministers. The UNC issued the following media release on Wednesday:

“The United National Congress applauds the news that kidnap victim Natalie Pollonais was rescued late Monday evening and that the mother of three is reported to be in good health and unharmed.

We applaud further the diligent and meticulous work of the hard-working police service in utilizing its resources in ensuring the successful release of Ms. Pollonais. The positive results of this police operation reflect upon outcomes which are motivated by perseverance, persistence and resolve.

We anticipate now, that any and all perpetrators of this heinous offence would be brought before our courts and that justice would prevail.

What we cannot congratulate, commend and condone is the presence of two Ministers of Government at a press briefing last night outside the precincts of the Police Administration Building during which the Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith had sought to communicate the outcome of the police initiatives which led to Ms. Pollonais’ release.

In fact, we wish to condemn and denounce categorically the presence of these two government Ministers who obviously sought to utilise the moment for inexpensive public relations and marketing.

That these two Ministers, who incidentally have developed an unparalleled affection for media spotlight, took crude advantage to bolster their dwindling political image is insulting to both the innocent victim of this crime and to the initiatives of the police service. It is also an affront to our citizens who expect governance with decorum.

The laws of Trinidad and Tobago which regulate the operations of the Police Service are very clear. The Police Service is an independent body that must at all times be insulated and isolated against any form of political interference.

In the conduct and pursuit of its work, the Police Service does not take any instructions from any Minister or any politician. Further, the Police Service is under no legal obligation or compelled in any way to keep any politician or Minister abreast of any investigation, inquiry, probe or sting operation.

The actions of these Ministers in not only attending the media briefing, but wanting to articulate a position on behalf of the government is proof of their ignorance of the boundaries and limits of their ministerial obligations.

We can only find this to be a blatant and worrying intrusion, invasion and assault on the independence of the police service. It falls nothing short of political nosiness and intrusiveness and befits one basic definition: political meddling and snooping of the worst kind.

We consider this to be a frightening development. When elected, politicians seek to propel themselves into the work of the protective services, it constitutes a flagrant disregard for our Constitution, reflects on an abuse of power and threatens the fabric of our democracy.

As the truth of our economic predicament sets in, readers may find it useful to look back at previous budgets since 2001.

One will easily note that in a nine-year period up to 2010, national budgets increased by over 300%, and while this happened, oil and gas production declined, there were drastic declines in drilling, negligible diversification, foreign investment plunged, and the State was plagued by over-budget mega projects.

In the years 2011 to 2015, national budgets increased by approximately 26% in spite of non-boom oil and gas prices, with increases in oil and gas exploration and new investments, as well as completed and delivered large-scale projects.